Take the test and help protect your health

Many of the surgeries we perform come about due to patient vigilance: having the recommended screenings that can reveal problems at their earliest, most treatable stages. Making sure you have important cancer screenings, for example, could save your health and your life, so be aware of these testing guidelines:

Recommended screenings for men in their 40s

• Early colonoscopy– to detect colon cancer
  If your mother, father or a sibling has had cancer, you should begin having colonoscopies (or flexible sigmoidoscopy) as early as your 40s to detect signs of colon cancer.
• Early PSA blood test– to detect prostate cancer

Again, if you’re at higher risk from a family history, age 40-45

• Skin exam/biopsy– annually to detect melanoma skin cancer

If you have a family history of this type of skin cancer or notice atypical moles

Recommended screenings for women in their 40s

• Baseline mammogram– to detect breast cancer

The ideal age to begin having this screening has been debated, but most doctors recommend this annual exam begin as early as 40 and not later than 50

• PAP/HPV– to detect cervical cancer
  Every five years after the age of 40
• Early colonoscopy to detect colon cancer, if at high risk
• Skin exam/biopsy– annually to detect melanoma skin cancer, if at high risk or notice skin irregularities

Recommended screenings for men in their 50s-60s and beyond

• Regular colon cancer screenings should begin (every ten years if no family history and if test is clear)
• Regular prostate cancer screenings should begin.

Screening intervals will be based on your PSA level prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood level, every two years to annually

• CT scan— to detect lung cancer

If you smoke, have a long smoking history, quit in the last 15 years

Recommended screenings for women in their 50s-60s and beyond

• Regular colon cancer screenings should begin (every 10 years if no family history and if test is clear)
• Mammogram

50-55 screen annually; at 55, every two years

• PAP/HPV– to detect cervical cancer

Stop at 65 if not at high risk

If you have questions about testing that can help protect your health, call today: 908-725-8755.